Drought conditions prevail in Puntland as well as several parts of Somaliland, central and southern regions. Water shortages are reported in all drought-affected regions, increasing the risk of an acute watery diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera outbreak. With populations on the move in search of water and pasture, an estimated 35,000 children are at risk of dropping out of schools. The drought will further aggravate the malnutrition crisis with an increase in enrolment in nutrition programmes.

Significant funding shortfalls continue to threaten WFP’s ability to maintain assistance to refugees and vulnerable populations in drought-affected and urban areas. New funding is urgently required to avert possible breaks in cash-based transfers for refugees in January 2017.

Locust outbreak has continued in western Mauritania. Breeding has extended to southern Western Sahara, where limited control operations are in progress, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Poor early season precipitation has resulted in increasing moisture deficits and deteriorating ground conditions throughout portions of Angola, southern DRC, and northern Zambia.

The Horn of Africa is experiencing a devastating drought, which has left more than 15 million people in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia facing food and water shortages and in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

The Inter-Agency Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Horn, East and Central Africa issues this call for action to respond to the urgent needs of over 15 million people experiencing a devastating drought in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya.

The time to act is now.

GOVERNMENTS AND HUMANITARIAN ACTORS SHOULD:

Work with market actors to ensure urgent access to water through the provision of vouchers or cash to vulnerable people, and as a last resort undertake water trucking

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – In 2013, African Union (AU) leaders committed to a future where the continent is free from the scourge of conflict; pledging to ‘end all wars in Africa by 2020.’

But the high ideals of Vision 2020 – also referred to as ‘Silencing the Guns’ – can only become a reality if pragmatic steps are taken to curb the misuse and uncontrolled spread of arms. One such measure is the enforcement of United Nations (UN)-imposed arms embargoes.

Nairobi, 7 December 2016 – The African Union Mission in Somalia and the Federal Government of Somalia have resolved to work together to tackle the use of child soldiers in the country .

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, said armed groups in Somalia had many child soldiers within their ranks, hence the need for a collective approach to security to enhance the war against the vice.

Global agricultural prospects are improving but lean seasons loom in near future

8 December 2016, Rome - Civil conflict and weather-related shocks have severely stressed food security in 2016, increasing the number of countries in need of food assistance, according to a FAO report. The new edition of the Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, released today, highlights 39 countries that are in need of external assistance for food.

Thirty-two-year-old Ibrahim Dahir Hussein was one of the Somali youth who had lost hope in the country’s politics.

He was tired of hearing old politicians repeat that youth are the future leaders, yet no action was being taken to include young people in the affairs of the country.

However, Mr. Hussein’s views began to change after seeing efforts made by the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (FIEIT) to encourage youth to participate in politics ahead of the 2016 electoral process.

Fifteen-day-old Faadumo lies quietly with her big, dark eyes wide open. Her tiny head and dainty fists rest on a nest of blankets, starting with a black shawl. A second one adorned with white dots is layered on top. She is then tucked in a bigger, thicker blanket in a maroon and cream color. In between these wrappings is one more layer that is smooth, reflective and uncharacteristically thin for a blanket. It is a black plastic shopping bag.

Baidoa, 5 December 2016 – Somalia’s South West State completed elections for 69 seats in the House of the People today, becoming the second federal state to do so after Jubbaland.

The last day of voting saw the reelection of two former members of parliament (MPs), Hassan Maalim Hussein and Hussein Mohamud Sheikh.

Speaking after the conclusion of the process, State Indirect Electoral Implementation Team (SIEIT) Chairman Mohamed Abdullahi Mursal commended all persons who made the exercise in South West State successful.